What Color is your Bimini/Dodger?

[Sailm8]

We are in the market for a replacement bimini and dodger. We have been very pleased with the sunbrella fabric we are currently using but want to consider a color change. The color is currently dark blue and when we stand at the helm you can feel the Florida heat radiating through the material. It is at least 20 degrees warmer. Has anyone used a lighter shade like a gray or tan? How does it work with the heat? How does it work with bird poop? In this area everyone has the same color blue. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[zeehag]

i sailed on a boat that has a beige --looks like desert sand color--worked well. every shade off arctic white FOR CARS is 10 degrees of heat absorption. my formosa uses forest green..lol--my ericson i have concord--i willl probably use concord with the green and make a mess..LOL---under sail it isnt important--you get the breezes--at anchor it makes a difference in cabin top temp, thus interior temp... tarp acts as an attic--keeps the warmth until a breeze blows it out...but prevents the sun from beating on the coach house roof..we also used a brown tarp--didnt seem to make any difference on the boat...in cars, i know the 10 degree thing works--havent found it to be of any consequence in the water, as the water tempo also affects interior comfort....so is all personal preference, as far as i can see--i donot use marinas, so i always face wind, but in a marina it might make a slight diffeence as the wind isnt always on the bow creating a good breeze through the boat....bird poo--i have a kat--he takes care of that--he is always on watch and stray burdeez get caught or batted....LOL....

 

[Chuckbear]

Ours is yellow. Works fine in the southern sun.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

The typical dark blue does hide stains and discoloration but we've found the tan does help reflect some heat at the expense of periodic cleaning.

 

[Ross]

For our awning I use a cast-off striped home awning. makes us look mediterranean. lol.. I tried a bimini but we don't have room for one between the tops of our heads and the boom. I think that the best thing I did when I rebuilding was to line the entire boat with 1/2 inch Airex core. With the small ventilation fans the cabin temp is the same as the outside air temp.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Mine is Pacific Blue -- a bit lighter than the traditional dark "Hunter blue." It works quite well to keep us cool while sailing under it. I've noted that the boats in my marina with white biminis always seem to attract bird poop....

 

[Sailm8]

Thanks for the responses. The bird poo is a big issue at our dock. It seems like once they christen a boat they make it a habit. It gets worse when they have had berries to eat. Maybe I need to get Sunbrella to make a bird poop color fabric.

 

[CarlN]

Over the years, and boats, I've switched from navy all the way to Sunbrella Oyster White. The reason is bird poop - oh, and it is both cooler and more cheerful under the dodger.

While the Oyster white does show dirt sooner, a lot of dirt around a boat is sort of light gray so there's little contrast. Anyone who has studied bird poop will know that the "dark" parts wash off easily. It's the "white" component that really stains. On a dark color Sunbrella it really gets down into the weave.

When the light Sunbrella does get dirty (the bird poop berries are sometimes a problem) you can attack it with really strong cleaners with no worry of bleached white spots on a dark background.

And it never looks "faded"

Carl

 

[Stu Jackson]

Bird poop shows up more on blue than light tan, like zeehag's color description - sand. We love ours.

 

[druid]

Mine is Erin Green (fairly dark). I have noticed it gets hot under it, but the windscreen zips out and GREATLY reduces the heat under the dodger!

druid

 

[zeehag]

i reallly dont understand why you guys all have so much problem with burdeee dooo----i never have any at all.....but i have bubba daboatkat and he doesnt let them sit on his boat(he has the light canvas)..LOL.....so i never get burdee poo...neither does phillips boat-see--kats are good for something,,LOL.....he stands his watch--
my formosa will have dark canvas as i found it really doesnt matter too much the color as long as the covering is there---the eisenglass opens , so air comes in--is all good--i have dark green on my formosa--the bimini will be solar panels..LOl...saves matching fabric!!..and dodger?? is broken for now--i will redo it later..in mexico.....


i am just reallllly glad the osprey dont like my boat ..LOL.....they like a couple of them here, but not mine--must be the kat.....LOL....

 

[pogo2]

I have Burgandy and it works well, The temps have been in the high 80's - mid 90's for the month of July and the shade is great.

 

[Liam]

Forrest Green... hides the algea.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Glad we resolved another one. No wonder Sunbrella has 73 color choices.

 

[Ross]

Glad we resolved another one. No wonder Sunbrella has 73 color choices.

and my choice is better than your choice. lol Why would you choose THAT color?

 

[RichH]

I have 'true brown' sunbrella .... which is good for 'shading the eyes' but does become hot and the heat 'radiates' right on through the brown.

Next time I build a dodger or bimini I will put Sunbrella 'natural' (off white) on the top to reflect the heat and still use (sandwich) the 'brown' for anti-glare for 'underneath'.

 

[Ross]

I have wondered about painting the tops with aluminum paint. Blind the neighbors while staying cooler underneath. I may try it with a large black unbrella.

 

[zeehag]

ross--you have AGAIN stolen my heart--tellnancy thankyou.......^^^^^^^......dang --i thought i was only one thinking like this ..LOL....


i like concord--is royal purple...LOL and fades into a paler version of it.....not as hot and not blue..lol....

 

[BobM]

Actually I am surprised that Zeehag or others haven't thought of requesting that Sunbrella make a light colored fabric with printed cats or owls on it to keep the gulls away LOL.

 

[Alan]

The Sport-Brella fabric that I use for a sun awning has a silver coating on the inside to help reflect heat rays. I have to admit it feels a lot cooler than the navy blue dodge fabric.